Real Estate Agent (REA)
Real Estate & Sales
Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.
In Malaysia
In Malaysia, only LPPEH-registered estate agents (REA) and their tagged negotiators (REN) may broker property for a fee; unregistered 'agents' are illegal. Most newcomers start as RENs paid mainly by commission, so income varies widely. LPPEH listed about 2,151 registered estate agents.
- How people get into it here
- Two tiers. Real Estate Negotiator (REN): pass the LPPEH Negotiator Certification Course and work under a registered firm. Registered Estate Agent (REA): SPM with 5 passes (3 credits incl. Maths/Science/Accounts/Commerce) or higher → pass LPPEH Estate Agents Exam Parts I & II (or a recognised degree) → 2 years as probationary estate agent → Test of Professional Competence.
- Registration required
- Lembaga Penilai, Pentaksir, Ejen Harta Tanah dan Pengurus Harta (LPPEH/BOVAEP)
Sources:lppeh.gov.my
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
- 2Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
- 3Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
- 4Supervise agents who handle real estate transactions.
- 5Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
- 6Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.
- 7Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- 8Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
- 9Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner.
- 10Check work completed by loan officers, attorneys, or other professionals to ensure that it is performed properly.
- 11Rent properties or manage rental properties.
- 12Maintain awareness of current income tax regulations, local zoning, building and tax laws, and growth possibilities of a property's area.
- 13Arrange for financing of property purchases.
- 14Arrange for title searches of properties being sold.
- 15Give buyers virtual tours of properties in which they are interested, using computers.
- 16Appraise property values, assessing income potential when relevant.
- 17Review property details to ensure that environmental regulations are met.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Broker
- Dealer
- Realtor
- Buyer Broker
- Buyers Agent
- Closing Agent
- Lease Analyst
- Loan Specialist
- Managing Broker
- Property Broker
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
Typical entry
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Sales and Marketing90%
BusinessEconomics
- Customer and Personal Service85%
- English Language83%
English
- Law and Government80%
History (Sejarah)
- Administration and Management79%
BusinessEconomics
- Economics and Accounting70%
Principles of AccountingEconomics
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleConstant contact
- Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
- Leading or coordinating othersHigh
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Outdoors, in all weatherOften
- Noisy environmentAlmost never
- Time spent sittingMost of the time
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
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About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Real Estate Brokers
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org